First let me say I am neither a reader nor a writer, so this review will be plain spoken and direct. Having said that, be aware that this book has lifted me up and sailed me through my troubling times. I read this book in the waiting room while my mother was having open hear surgery. I read this book to my mother during her recovery. What a blessing this book was for the both of us! I read this book while struggling with the news of sexual abuse of boys in the Catholic Church. Again, this book pulled me through. I am so grateful that I can retreat to this book, in that while reading I can be at peace while experiencing the life of such a wonderful SAINT! This book has and continues to remind me that just because I don't see others around me helping those less fortunate than they or I, that is no excuse for me not to do so. Thank you so very much Mary van Balen Holt for this wonderful book!

What a wonderful and inspiring story. God does indeed call people from all walks of life into service. You are easily drawn into the heart and mission of Saint Katharine Drexel as you read this book by Mary Van Balen Holt. Mary's writing captures the reader and leads them to a deep undestanding of how God called and used this beloved saint to serve Him and His people.

What an interesting and inspiring book! Woven carefully into Katherine Drexel's biographical information are intimate glimpses into her discernment of the direction her life would take. Through her personal writings and correspondance, and rich stories from her family life, we witness her spiritual growth and celebrate with her the crystalization of her unique call. Mary vanBalen Holt has presented us with a truly accessible saint whose circumstances, though likely quite different from our own, provide us with insight into the choices we all must make in discerning and following our individual roads to holiness. Katharine Drexel's story is fascinating. The breadth of her life experiences, the selflessness of sharing her personal fortune, the extent of her impact on the lives of countless poor and oppressed people in the United States, and the depth of her devotion to her God and to his work on earth, is an inspiration to all of us. It is also an affirmation of that little voice we each hear within ourselves.
One life, when lived prayerfully and courageously, can touch countless others. Mary vanBalen Holt's conversational writing style makes this book easy to read and its message easy to take to heart.

a girl marries. she soon frinds herself a widow with a baby on the way. the heir to a fortune. some one is trying to put her in a nut house but her lover saves her. my favorite quote from the book " he lend over me and looked at the baby and said there's only one thing wrong he's not mine, that was his praposil for marrage" the 8th victoria holt book i read.

I first read this novel when I was in junior high school. It was the second novel I read by Victoria Holt, but it was the first one that made me want to read more of her books with enthusiasm. It was very hard to put down this book after the first chapter. The suspense kept me wanting to find out what was going to happen next. Victoria Holt is a great romantic-suspense author and it's really sad that she's no longer around to write more books. And I'm even more disappointed that "Kirkland Revels" is no longer in print. My copy of the book was borrowed and I never got it back. I don't even remember who borrowed it. It was back in the 1970s. So now all I have are fond memories of the book and the story. I wish the publisher would print this book again (hardbound). I need this book to add to my collection of Victoria Holt novels.

This is the first nowel of Victoria Holt I read, since then she is one of my favorite writers. If you want to read some books by her, Kirkland Revels is a good choice for begining.

When I began reading this book, I thought that I would read a few pages and pick it up later. I read nearly half the book in one sitting. The concept of the "base" is clear and the inspiration I felt after reading and making notes in the book was immediate and real. After completing it, I felt empowered by finally realizing that I am in control of my life in the present, and the future, all I have to do is make an effort to change the aspects of my life I dislike. This book provided a realistic strategy for doing so. No slogans, or gimmicks, just pure fact about who we are as humans. Uplifting!

my husband and I read this book together. We had experienced a few problems after 14 years of marraige, and needed some insight. We discovered this book through a friend, who recommended it. Finding the root cause of our disatisfactions with one another and life in general, was made possible by reading this book. Discovering our "bases" was the key, it helped us focus in on our strengths and we are much happier today.

We are all looking for some way to cope with life's trails. This book affords us all a means of finding that inner strength and creating a strategy to do so. It really allows us to identify who we are, why we are doing what we are doing and how to go about changing that; by peeking at the lives of others. Thank you all for sharing your lives so others may learn from them.

Robert L. Holt's "STOP Skyjackers" is a must-read for all who fly the once friendly skies as a passenger. Since 9/11/01, every passenger must be extremely aware of the fact that your own life may depend on your own reactions to a radical or radicals' attempt to takeover a plane in the air, or on the ground, while you are a passanger on that aircraft. STOP Skyjackers gives you the many concepts and planning tools to be prepared to save your own life, if needed during a skyjacking. This book, if read by most air passengers, could create the bond we all need as customers aboard the world's heavily traveled airlines. If you think that the devastating skyjackings of 9/11 were a one-time-event...think again! The War on Terrorism has just begun, and we, all residents of earth, are a part of it. STOP Skyjacking is the first truly training manual of this long-term war against terrorism.

Until I read this book I had never thought that just a few simple common-sense precautions might someday save my life. Thanks to the author I now plan what I wear on a flight and what I take along in my pocket, just in case. I now know exactly what to be aware of and what I have to do, personally, should the unimaginable happen. We all think it won't ever happen to us, don't we? The author has opened my eyes. One of these hints alone is worth the price of the book.

This is for real... if you're going to be traveling you must read this book. Knowledge is power. Gain all the power you can! Even if one is not traveling, this book is important to read. We need to know all we can to better understand the situation which we are all dealing with against any and all terrorists. The author gives us serious tools to deal! Thank you Mr. Holt!

I just finished this book (my 12th Victoria Holt novel!!) and like always, she can spin a tale of gothic romance like no one else. I wish, God how I wish, this talented woman was still alive and writing, because no one did it better. Her sense of detail, setting, people, is just so lush and vibrant. This novel is set in France and revived my interest in French culture! This is also a fast moving book, full of energy. You will love it! If you have never read Miss Holt, read this, Mistress of Mellyn, and On the Night of the Seventh Moon and just see how quickly you become a huge fan!

This book is good at keeping you in suspense. Dallas Lawson is a painter who goes to a country estate wich belongs to a mysterious and aloof man(the comte)durring the 1800's. Where she is thrown into mystery and adventure. She went there to find a job of restoring paintings only the job of restoring wrong doing has found her. I highly recommend this book. Its the kind of book to read on a dark rainy day or anytime for that matter.

Victoria holt weaves a web of mystery love france dignity and sheer terror that is simply spellbinding . if its the last thing you ever do you must read this book. I'm at a loss for words so just read the book okay

This is a must-read book for anyone interested in any of the following topics: African-American History, hunting, Theodore Roosevelt, Southern History, the Civil War, and William Faulkner. As an avid Faulkner reader, I cannot help but conclude that Holt Collier is the real-life person upon which the pivotal character of Sam Fathers is based. Beyond this observation, the book is well researched and is an excellent read. You will not be disappointed. HOLT COLLIER deserves a wide audience and should be assigned reading.

Brilliantly written non-fiction biography using countless primary sources. An amazing new character never before presented to the general public. If this book had not been sent to me as a present I would have never heard of it. Apparently it has been sold only as a regional book, but I can assure any reader, it will have a national following in due course. Very highly recommended. Well worth the read. You will come away from this book thinking about it for weeks, and frankly, you will soon pick it up to read it again.

As a history major in college I developed a taste for the truth that can only be found in biographies. Over the years I have kept a small library in my home and under my bed to read at night, prior to retiring. The book by Mr. Buchanan is a detailed, accurate account of this man and his relationships to the men around him and his world. Being a product of the Mississippi Delta, I can see Holt Collier in the deep bayou's of the old Delta, hunting the bears. I admire the writer's style in his ability to place me there beside Holt all along the way in this book. There, in the realities of Holt's world, the reader walks his paths, thinks his thoughts, and feels the anger he feels.

Finally I would like to thank Mr. Buchanan for this effort and look forward to seeing more of his work in the future.

A treasure trove of all things Myth II. This is one of the best buys for any serious Myth fan because of the vast wealth of knowledge it contains and displays with our beloved Myrth humor. The Handbook explains the details of basic unit editing and map editing, has walkthroughs for the Solo levels, plus comes with a CD that is absolutely packed with tons of Myth files and utils of every kind.
Please do not hesitate, if you are a newer Myth II fan, or one of the older vets, to order this book. It just has so much to offer, you can't possibly be let down.

Amateur publisher J. Charles Holt has created a gem of a book here, one that's sure to please any Myth II fan from newbie to hardcore cartographic wizard. No other electronic gaming book I've read has come close to the breadth and depth of topical coverage contained in this beautifully designed and written handbook. All topics are given due attention, from clear explainations of game concepts and controls, to advanced strategies for network play, and on into in-depth map making. Like a literary juggler, Holt manages to keep all these balls in the air with wit and elegance, keeping the reader entranced and amused at the same time.

Personally, I found the map-making section most helpful--within a day after receiving my copy I found the information I needed to solve a particularly mystifying mapping problem. That solution alone justified the price of the book in terms of number of hours saved futzing around with a problem that had been nagging at me for weeks. Also, after reading the map scripting section, I can't wait to dig into scripting my own map actions. Thanks for such a great book!

The Myth 2 Handbook is chock full of goodies, and insightful information written by one of the most involved members of the Myth community. His clear and witty style takes you through the annals of MythII. From 3rd party editing to strategy and more, this handbook is the best resource a Myther could want.

This book is so true. If you're looking for guidance on how to begin to teach your children this is the place to start. This will put you on the right track!!!!

Anyone who works with children or is interested in education and psychology will enjoy John's interesting ideas. Most of this book is anecdotes about John's experience with different young children and his thoughts about how children learn in different areas that are based on those experiences.

How Children Learn
By John Holt

5 stars

Holt didn't have children of his own, and his first opinions of children and learning came from being a schoolteacher in an elite private school, where he taught math to 5th graders. He was exposed to younger children and babies who were friends and relatives, and began forming different opinions about learning, which he shares in this book. Holt is fascinated by the notion that children accomplish so much before formal schooling begins and realizes that the way school is set up goes directly in opposition to what is natural and has worked for these children up to the point they are sent off to school.

The beginning of the book covers the age ranges from birth up through age 3 to 5, that is, before children go to school. Holt talks about a certain type of important learning that takes place up until the time a child enrolls in school at which point the experience of schooling changes their personality. The book starts off with how children succeed in learning many important things and huge feats such as speaking and with proper grammar and pronunciation and walking without formal schooling and that children accomplish much learning without an adult being the facilitator of it. In general the style of writing is that Holt describes a situation and then gives his opinions of the learning experience. Sometimes Holt does little experiments such as introducing a toy or a non-toy (such as a typewriter) to young children to see how they react to it and what they do with it. Holt observes with delight and amazement, these young children who are friends and relatives (they are not his students or participants in a research projects). It is clear that Holt enjoys these young children and he respects them and relishes the time he spends with them.

This revised edition makes clear which text is original then what was added-which is new perspective as he had spent more time around children and his theories matured and changed a bit. Seeing the two perspectives clearly was very interesting and educational.

Regarding the discussions about babies and toddlers there are good observations here and I appreciate them. As a stay at home parent, I have already witnessed much of this (and more) and for some of the chapters I felt I wasn't learning anything I hadn't already witnessed with my own two eyes. However, readers who are childless will definitely learn much about how learning happens from infancy and up. I highly recommend that anyone interested in going into the profession of teaching read this book, or any current teacher who is childless. Holt gives the children much-deserved respect for their innate ability to learn and figure out the world around them.

Later chapters get more analytical as Holt integrates his own observation of schooled children (about grade 5 and below) and compares and contrasts with other educators, scientists and child psychologists. (It doesn't seem to me that Holt is analyzing preteens or teenagers.) Here is where Holt exercises his ability to write clearly and concisely drive home his point in a convincing manner.

Again and again Holt shows how a child to is forced to "learn" things (such as in public and most private schools) is actually having their personality changed in the process. The act of being forced to do things and to prove oneself over and over via testing and not being trusted by adults changes their personality. Holt feels the schooling procedures have negative consequences on all children; albeit some children are more negatively affected than others. The child can develop anxiety, mistrust, and fear of all adults not to mention self-esteem problems or just killing their curiosity or interest in learning.

Great quotes from other books on education and learning are included here with Holt's reactions. A short list of books on school reform is included. The summary alone is almost worth the price of the book.

For more specific information about what goes on in school and how children learn to play the school game and how forced teaching is not always effective, read Holt's "How Children Fail".

This would make a great gift for expectant parents, I feel it would point out to them that babies deserve a lot of respect for being able to figure out the world around them. This notion of being in awe of and respectful of children starting at birth is seldom written about...so many of us were under the misguided notion that an adult must be the one to force learning onto babies and children (me included until I birthed my babies and saw firsthand how smart they are).

Who's Afraid of Beowulf? Sure, it's a catchy title, but I'm afraid that it is misleading. Beowulf is not a character in the story, but he's mentioned about 3 times. Despite Beowulf's absence, this book is still pretty good. Tom Holt treats us to an interesting cast of characters that drive or walk around London or Caithness. There's the cameraman, who keeps saying, "This is like that time in (name of place) where such and such happened." There are two electron-like entities called Prexz and Zxerp, who have nothing better to do than play board games. Then there's the Vikings that Hildy Fredericks-daughter discovers. And together they vow to rid the world of a sorcerer that has managed to stay alive for several hundred years. This is a pretty decent parody on Vikings and fantasy. It's not so much that Tom Holt has funny scenes, but he has interesting characters, that make this book enjoyable. Unlike some parodies I've read, the end of this book is very satisfying and won't leave you hanging.

Tom Holt's humorous fantasies tend to have the same basic framework, involving a feisty present-day female who somehow gets involved with historical or mythical characters come to life and pursuing their quest through the modern world (usually in Britain). Sometimes it works better than others. Here it works very well.

Enjoy, then, this tale of archaeologist Hildy who, excavating a Viking tomb in bleak and windswept Caithness (Scotland's northernmost county which really was, at one point, in military and cultural terms more a southern outpost of Scandinavia than a northern one of Britain) only to revive a team or warriors who were in suspended animation and promptly resume their mission, dragging her along with them. The Anglo-Saxon hero of the title doesn't feature, but an entertaining cast of characters does and Holt is on top form with his deft and humorous handling of plot and situations.

If you're new to Tom Holt this would be a good place to start.

Archaeologist Hildy Frederiksen has always wanted to make a major discovery and an intact Viking ship burial certainly fits the bill. She most definitely does *not* expect the dead Vikings to come back to life and is understandably rattled when they do. It seems a thousand years ago King Rolf Earthstar of Caithness, ('God forsaken place but it is my Kingdom') and his band of heroes fought a dreadful battle with the evil Sorceror King, won the battle but lost track of their enemy and so found it necessary to do a 'King Arthur' that is put themselves into an enchanted sleep to wake when they are needed to destroy the Sorceror King once and for all. Thus Hildy finds herself the dazed and bewildered guide to an unflappable King Rolf and his bickering band of heroes as they make their way southward to confront the Enemy in his new stronghold, London. Absolutely hilarious.

I found this book in the attic covered under piles of dust. I did not know what it was about as it did not have a cover or anything telling what the book was about. I decided to give it a try and was immediatly submersed in the world of the 1800's. I could not put the book down after the first page. it took me about 2 days to complete the whole book. The author, Giles, is very descriptive and exciting writer. Usually i do not like to read books set in the 1800's, but this book is excellent. It is about the life of Rebecca Fowler. It starts with her early life chasing the man she loves and evovles as Rebecca does into her life story. It talks of life in the wilderness and then life while she is involved in a Shaker community and life thereafter. This is an excellent book and i cannot wait to read more book written by Giles.

From beginning to end I was drawn into the lives of all the caratures. Being from Kentucky and visiting Shakertown, I was able to use my imagination and see different sides of how they lived. It brought out both the pros and cons to their living. I also liked how a woman in that time was able to be strong and go with her "beliefs".

I have read many of Ms. Giles books and this one is by far my favorite! She truly reached out to me and because of her book I am contemplating converting to Shakerism! She makes the characters come alive, feel their feelings, and even though she shares it from a point of view against Shakers, she lets you form your own opinion. I worked at a Shakertown but nothing was as moving to me as this book!